Looking at how you build and manage your SRI/ESG strategy
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Chargeable event regime
- The power of gross roll up
- Top slicing – basic and advanced
- Update on the Silver case with worked examples
- Bonds vs GIA
Looking at how you build and manage your SRI/ESG strategy
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- How to comply with MiFID 2 and FCA requirements
- Tips on discussing this with clients
- Researching this area
- The compromises clients might have to make
- A paraplanner’s experience of building a firm’s process and strategy.
Looking for an introduction or useful refresher on UK tax for savings and especially offshore bonds? Here we take it all the way back to the essentials.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Overview of different taxes
- UK savings regime
- Structure of bonds
- Taxation of bonds
- Myth busting
- Reasons to use an offshore bond
Active. Passive. Multi-Asset. Evidenced Based. Advisory. Discretionary. There’s plenty of jargon there but what do they all mean? How do they work? Is it possible to work out which one is best?
Learning Objectives
In this session we covered…
- The jargon and what it means
- How do the different investing approaches work
- How do you determine the right approach
Explore the basics of ethical investing.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Understanding the terminology – ethical, ESG, SRI, sustainable etc.
- Navigating the range of products and styles of ESG investing
- The change in attitudes to ESG among companies and investors
- Greenwashing! How can investors combat this?
- How ethical considerations vary for different asset classes and regions
- Pros and cons of the increasing amount of data and ESG ratings available
- Active versus passive in ESG investing, what are the advantages or disadvantages?
- Negative screening
- MIFid II – Discussions with your clients
State Pensions are an important part of many peoples’ financial plansplans and in this video we explore the considerations.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- How state pension age has changed and further proposals to amend Comparison of old State Pension and new State Pension
- What will your client get?
- What are the differences?
- How the State Pension is Accrued
Foundation amounts
- Qualifying National Insurance credits and pitfalls to avoid
- Working and retiring abroad
- State Pension death benefits
- Differences between old and new state pension
- Guiding your client through a State Pension forecast
- Assessing what your client may get
- Eligibility and cost of topping up state pension
- Considerations before topping up state pension
- State Pension deferral
- Comparison of old State Pension v new State Pension rules
- Who can defer?
- Considerations for deferring and alternative options
In 2013, we set out with a simple ambition: To create an informal gathering designed by paraplanners for paraplanners to exchange views, learn things, fix things and share things.
Taking inspiration from the unique quality of teepees to create space for conversation and cooperation in-the-round, we settled on the idea of staging an unconference event held in rolling countryside under open skies – in teepees.
And because of the teepees’ association with Native American tradition, we named the event the Paraplanners Powwow. The language and imagery and props and furnishings we adopted drew on the depictions of the 19th century United States popularised in ‘Western’ films and TV.
Despite being intended as a one-off event, the organising principles adopted for that original event proved compelling.
So much so, in fact, that paraplanners who attended the very first Powwow decided to organise their own events: Powwow Up North was born, and then Powwow Down South, and then Powwow North of the Border, and so on and so on.
The Paraplanners Powwow name stuck and so we stuck with the whole Powwow theme.
But in recent weeks we’ve had plenty of reasons to think again about persisting with the ‘Powwow’ theme – not least because we received an email challenging us directly about our adoption and use of the powwow idea, naming and associated branding.
To be confronted with the idea that our events contribute to cultural appropriation of Native American tradition and, in doing so, perpetuate prejudice has been upsetting. And we know that participants in our events would feel exactly the same as us.
But as organisers, we should have recognised the harm that the adoption of the powwow would cause. We didn’t and we are sorry.
What we can do is make changes now.
We have already begun to take steps to remove the Powwow and Howwow names and end the use of imagery and props that contribute to cultural appropriation of Native American tradition.
That’s why, from now on, we’re the Paraplanners Assembly.
And although we’re changing our name, the idea that’s made our events and the community that’s flourished around them remains exactly the same: To create informal gatherings designed by paraplanners for paraplanners to exchange views, learn things, fix things and share things.
We’re learning from our mistakes. We’re fixing it. And – today – we’re sharing our news.
We’ll be publishing details of new events coming up and will see you at an Assembly soon.
From revision tips from seasoned exam sitters to thoughts on how to study together in groups, a group of paraplanners share best practice on revision and exam preparation.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Creating your own study plan
- Getting the best from revising in groups
- Common pitfalls in preparation
- Sitting the exam: The dos and the don’ts
- Managing exam nerves
- What to do if you don’t pass?
- Is a remark worth it?
- Should you take it again?
- Looking at options from other examining bodies
Autoenrolment has led to millions of people going into DC pension schemes. But a little birdie called the Financial Conduct Authority, found out in their 2017 Financial Lives Survey, that despite people getting a statement every year, only 52% read theirs and only 23% say they understood it ‘very well’.
To address this, Quietroom were tasked to write and design a new Standard Annual Statement – a statement that would provide people with information they needed presented in a way they could understand.
Why is all this relevant to Paraplanners?
Having spent 18 months collaborating with the DWP, Eversheds, and in consultation with lots of different parties and over that time, Quietroom learnt lots of lessons. Many that are relevant to Paraplanners and our ongoing task to turn the complex into something meaningful to clients in reports.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- Communicating complex concepts in the simplest possible way.
- Making decision on what to leave in and take out of client communications and documentation.
- How to negotiate with other stakeholders (compliance, legal).
In this session we explore the practical implications of PROD for Paraplanners.
Learning objectives
In this session we covered…
- What’s the point of PROD?
- What are the rules, roles and responsibilities?
- Segmentation: What is it, what information do you need, what approaches can you take, what about model portfolios?
- Reporting: What and when? What’s the next thing you can do following this Howwow?